Nathan thompson



(No Model.)

N. THOMPSON. Bolt or Strap Fastener. No. 228,697. Patented June 8,1880.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN THOMPSON, OF

BROOKLYN, NEI'V YORK.

BOLT OR STRAP FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,697, dated June 8, 1880. I Application filed March 15, 1880. (No model.) Patented in England January 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State or" New York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented a new or Improved Bolt or Strap Fastener, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a new or improved device to be used in substitution for ordinary screw-bolts, studs, or straps and nuts; and it consists in the employment of curved rotating wedges, in combination with slotted bolts, studs, or straps, for connecting together parts of machinery, apparatus, and various articles which have been heretofore connected together by screw-bolts, studs, or straps and nuts.

These curved wedges have their outer surfaces formed curved or in the shape of part of a circle, or approximating thereto, and 1n forein g them in to position they are caused to travel in a curved pathstruck from a point or points in the center of such curved wedges.

The inner surface of the curved wedge is formed of a curved incline from the nose or point of the wedge to the thicker part thereof, where it is terminated with a concentric part struck from the same center or point as that from which the outer curved surface is struck, whereby the curved wedge is capable of being secured in its locked position, and in some cases 1 somewhat extend the nose of the curved wedge, or reduce it on the back, to facilitate its application, while its thick end is provided with an enlargement or head to enable a key or lever to be applied thereto for the purpose of operating the same.

These curved wedges are used in combina tion with slotted bolts, studs, or straps, their noses being first entered into the slots in such articles, and then, by the aid of a key or'lever applied to the enlarged ends of such curved wedges, they are turned until the concentric part thereof lies within the slot, when the wedges are secure against accidentally running back.

These curved wedges are applied with their outer curved surface acting against the surface of oneof the parts to be connected to gether-that is to say, it works in a plane vertical or at right angles to that of the surface against which it acts, and is not laid down on its side.

These curved wedges when in use have their outer curved surface in contact with one of the parts to be connected together,\vhile their inner curved surface acts against the metal at the end of the slotted opening in the bolt, stud, or strap.

In some cases I employ a washer between the head of the bolt and the surface against which it acts, and between the curved wedge and the surface against which it acts, in a similar manner to that adopted when using ordinary bolts and nuts, and by employing thicker or thinner washers compensation can be made for any inequalities in length of bolt, stud, or strap, and in the thicknesses of the parts to be connected together. I- however, in some cases, prefer to employ spring-washers between such parts in order to put a springpressure thereon, and I prevent the possibility of any slip of the curved wedge, from vibration or otherwise, by making one or two shallow notches or recesses in the outer face thereof, to act in combination with the edges of the slot in the washer; and in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully to describe the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of one of my improved curved wedges, and Fig. 2 is a side View of the slotted end of a bolt, stud, or strap. Fig. 3 is a side View, representing two parts connected together by a bolt and curved wedge constructed according to my invention. Fig. 4 is a side View of two parts connected together by a stud and curved wedge, the stud being screwed into one of such parts. Fig. 5 is a side view, representing a rod or bar held up to a bar or beam by a strap and curved wedges. Figs. 6 and 7 represent a spring-washer which may be used with the said curved rotating wedges; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view, showing two parts connected together by the aid of a curved rotatin g wedge and bolt and washer.

In all the figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.

(t represents my curved wedge, which has its outer curved surface, a, in the shape of part of a circle, or approximating thereto, and in forcing them into position they are caused to travel in a curved path struck from a point or points in the center of such curved wedges.

The inner surface, a of the curved wedge is formed of a curved incline from the nose or point a of the wedge to the thicker part thereof, where it is terminated with a concentric part, a, struck from the same center or point a as that from which the outer curved surface is struck, whereby, after the wedge has acted to draw the parts together and such concentric part (0 lies within the slotted opening I) in the pin 1) of the bolt stud or strap, such curved wedge is thereby held secure against accidentally running back, except in cases where it is subject to great vibration.

In some cases I somewhat extend the nose a? of the curved wedge, or reduce it on the back, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1, to facilitate its entrance into the slotted opening I).

The curved wedge is also provided with an enlargement or head, a, to enable a key or lever to be applied thereto for the purpose of operating the same.

The pin 1), with its slotted opening, may form part of a bolt, as represented at Fig. 3, or it may form part of a screw-stud, as shown at Fig. 4, or it may form part of a strap, as represented at Fig. 5.

At Fig. 3 I have represented two parts, 0 (I, connected together byaslotted bolt and curved rotating wedge, a washer, 0, being interposed between the head of the bolt and the part c and between the curved wedge a and the part (1.

At Fig. 4 I have represented two parts, 0 (I, connected together by aslotted stud and curved wedge, the stud being screwed into the part c, as shown, or otherwise fixed thereto. In this case I have shown a spring-washer, 0, between the curved wedge and the part d. Such sprin gwasher may also advantageously be used with the rotat-ive curved wedge for various purposes. When, however, itis necessary to guard against the curved wedge running back when subjected to great vibration, I form in the curved wedge one or two (preferably two) shallow notches or recesses, a", which, when the curved wedgeis forced com pletely in to position, rest upon the edges 0 of the spring or other washer, forming the sides of the slot therein, as represented at Fig. 8, thereby obtaining an effectual lock between the parts capable of resisting any amount of vibration to which the parts may be subjected.

My curved rotating Wedge may be employed wherever a screw, bolt, stud, or pin and nut are now employed. For instance, it may be used for fishing together railway metals, for connectin g together parts of machinery and of various articles for bridge, ship, and roof building, where it may be used either as a temporary or permanent fastening means. It may also be used for connecting together the flanges of pipes and the parts of vacuum-pans, and for various other uses too numerous to mention.

I would here remark that the bolt, stud, or pin may be formed rectangular in section, as shown in the drawings, or it may be formed circular or of suitable section, and the holes through the parts to be connected together may be made to fit the bolt, stud, or pin, or the holes may be round and the bolt, stud, or pin of other section.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the mode in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim isj 1. The curved wedge a, gradually increasing in thickness in the plane of the bend from its nose a to the concentric portion a, and havin g head or enlargement a and notch or recess a as and for the purpose described.

2. The curved wedge (tjointly with the slotted bolt, stud, or pin 1), as described.

3. The curved wedge to jointly with the slotted bolt, stud, or pin I) and spring-washer e, as and for the purpose set forth.

NATHAN THOMPSON.

\Vitnesses B. J. B. MILLs, O. M. WHITE, Both of 23 Southampton Buildings, London,

England. 

